​​Wow, it feels like it has been ages since I last reached out to you. But alas, just less than a month. You are probably busy with summer time tasks, fun and vacations. Please hit reply and let me know what your up to. As for my posse, we have been super busy. Nathan, Mom and I have been busy gallivanting around the Midwest and just plain having a blast. Doing a lot of work but enjoying ourselves in the process.

Back in April 2015, I took part in the Three Bridges Art Festival in Chatanooga, Tennessee. That's where I got to know a neighboring artist and his wife. We were tearing down our booths at the end of the show and she placed a stone into my hand and said, "Here is a lucky rock for you. We always keep a lucky rock in our booth and we both thought you needed stone." She related to me that she had been on a walk that morning and found a perfect one for me.

I have kept that lucky rock in my booth at every show ever since. It sits underneath of my charm necklace tree stand. Kind of a way to protect and send forth good prosperity for the show.

To me, it stands for much more than luck. It stands for a deep rootedness of the connection of being in a grounded state. Always keeping in the flow of the present. Remembering that others have helped me to where I am now.

This lucky rock also stands as a reminder to choose to be brave and not to give into fear. This rock also fills me with thoughts of gratitude, and to not sink into sadness when events are too certain or don't meet my expectations. This luck rock reminds me to always keep my core emotions as positive empowering emotions and to rise above circumstances instead of letting others, events and the world dictate how I will respond. That's my lucky rock. What's yours?

Krasl Art Fair On The Bluff Report. Grand Mere State Park Is A Wonderland...

The trip up to St. Joseph Michigan was uneventful until we reached Carmel, Indiana area. Plenty of rain met our Ford Flex as we pushed through. As we came within an hour of our hotel, the rain subsided, the heavens opened up and poured forth sunshine.

Later that evening, Nathan and I decided to search out a park that was nearby. It looked fantastic on Google and so we set out. It was near dusk and we were ready for a fantastic sunset. We were on a concrete foot path winding it's way through Grand Mere State Park. A quarter mile in on our hike, we were inundated with swarming bugs, mostly mosquitoes and the like. So we quickly turned back. Nathan and I ran back to the parking lot, while I was batting the bugs off of me with a large branch and leaves.

The next day after setting up for Krasl Art Fair we decided to take bug spray with us. This worked well, and trudging through the sand we encountered one of the most incredible beaches we have ever been to. Lake Michigan can look like an ocean because it stretches on and on. Combine this with the beautiful sand, and trees made it feel as if we had made our way to a secret wonderland.

Because of the accessibility issues with this park, there weren't too souls venturing here. We had it all to ourselves. We spent a couple hours in this place. Me taking pictures and Nathan gathering sea glass and interesting stones. (All of the neat pictures above are from that time at Grand Mere State Park.

So if your in the Stevensville, Michigan area, I would most definitely suggest making your way to Grand Mere.

Side note: Bring bug spray and use it.

But if you don't like too much strain, I would suggest Warren Dunes State Park. As equally impressive, yet unique and much more assecible. That means it it easy to get to the beach. Warren Dunes is 10 minutes south of Grand Mere. Just take I-94 and get off on Browntown Road. It will be on the right about a mile down. ​

Ban Thai - Big Fish, in Little Pond Impresses!​

Saint Joseph's doesn't really have too many ethnic restaurants to speak of. If you like pizza or Italian food then you will Saint Josephs.

But we wanted a little something more. We always search out unique places, perhaps Thai or Indian or the such. After investigating Yelp, we ventured off to the Ban Tai Restaurant. The restaurant isn't much from the outside since it is in a shopping center. But once you walk inside it is like you stepped into another world. This place is authentic. Ban Thai means Thai House by the way. Make total sense to me.

We made it right around 5pm and there wasn't a person there yet. Just the way we like it. We were quickly seated. Like I said, there wasn't anyone there.

That's when we met Jimmy. Wow, he kept us entertained from the get go. Asking us where we were from and peppering us with all kinds of queries. Most of the time, we don't want the wait staff to talk too much while we are dining but this was just right.

Did I say that Jimmy, he is really a nice guy? He had left his hometown of Bangkok many years ago and has been living in Chicago since that time. Each week Jimmy and his wife make the trip to Chicago (2 hours away) to pick up fresh ingredients from markets there. It's hard to get awesome Thai ingredients in Saint Joseph, Michigan. :)

I had the green curry, which I'm kind of stuck on. (I almost always get this dish) and Nathan was encouraged by Jimmy to get The Spicy Mama dish. Both were delicious! Rarely have we both been wowed by our food, service and the feel of a place.

I'm sure Jimmy thought of starting a Thai restaurant in Chicago, but with over 200 of them competition is stiff. Now he has an amazing restaurant in the small town of St. Joe and because of this has zero competition. We are glad he thought differently.

Thanks for being a Big Fish in A Small Pond Jimmy.​

But Wait There's More! ​Arriba Taqueria!​

​On Sunday after tear down, we both famished so we elected on Mexican. Now when we both go to Mexican we aren't too picky. But not too much to choose from here too. We decided upon on Arriba Taqueria. Quite honestly we weren't expecting too much. But score! This place is awesome too! How did we do it? Two awesome restaurants in a row on an art show trip? That almost never happens.

Heard the avocado salsa was incredible. I have to concur. I didn't ask how they made it. But tried to replicate it when we got home. Thought it was pureed avocado, lime and we put in Organic Apple Cider. (Didn't have enough lime) It just didn't taste the same. Kudos to them for this awesome creation.

We also had the vegetarian tacos, which were amazing. So another great restaurant in St. Joseph. Woohoo!​

Oh, almost forgot. Krasl Art Fair On The Bluff was amazing! The weather couldn't have been better. In the 70's both days. Didn't even have to use our Ryobi fans if we didn't. ​

Nathan and I met so many wonderful people. It was fun to talk to customers (friends) while sitting on the park benches. The sales were great and so many receptive, compliments too. It all wrapped up a fantastic weekend. This art show business can be stressful but with trips like this it makes it all worth it. If you want to check out what the Krasl Art fair is like and more, check out my Krasl Art Fair On The Bluff Cheat Sheet. ​​

​Have you ever been to the John Michael Kohler Art Center? Went three years back and it was really fun. Anyway, the Kohler Art Fair will be taking place from Saturday, July 15 to Sunday, July 16 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin on the grounds of the Kohler Art Center. The festival hours are Saturday, July 15, 2017, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Sunday, July 16, 2017, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Below are some of my newest creations available at the Kohler show. ​​